Gamble Rogers Middle School Cheer Parent Information Sheet

Transcription

1 Gamble Rogers Middle School Cheer Parent Information Sheet Thank you for your interest in Gamble Rogers Middle School Cheerleading, the home of the Stingrays! Our goal is to help your child build confidence and leadership skills that will help her succeed in the future. Through cheer, your child will have the opportunity to foster new friendships, while motivating her community both on and off the field. As a valued member of the GRMS Cheer team, she will learn to work with others, during which time her own mental and physical strength will grow. Welcome to GRMS Cheer!! My name is Coach Jenn Plappert, and this is my 6 th year as a GRMS Cheer Coach. I was born and raised in the St. Augustine/Palatka area. In my youth, I was a competitive dancer, gymnast, and cheerleader. This experience followed me to North Carolina where I worked for Charlotte Blume s School of Dance as a ballet, tap, jazz, acrobat, and cheer instructor. When I moved back to Florida, I decided to pursue a career in the medical field. However, my passion for dance, gymnastics and cheer always remained in my heart. Rekindled from observing my own two daughters competing in cheer, dance, and gymnastics for 15+ years, I began volunteering at various organizations such as The Dance Company, Zone Cheer, Ancient City Gymnastics, and now St. Johns Middle School Athletic Association. I have my certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) with the American Red Cross. Through the National Federation of State High Schools Association (NFHS), I am certified in the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA) Spirit Safety and Concussions in Sports. I have also worked as a tutor with various reading programs at local elementary schools for 16+ years. You can contact me at or at plapperts@yahoo.com. My name is Coach Cari Semmelman and this is my 3 nd year as a GRMS Cheer Coach prior to serving as a GRMS Cheer Team Mom. I was born in Johnson City, New York and raised in the Daytona Beach area. As a child, I was motivated in the study of dance and competed nationally in field shows with my Winterguard team and band, qualifying as Superior in show execution. My own daughters have been cheering for the past 6+ years, exposing me to the exciting world of cheer. Wanting to be more involved in their sport, I began volunteering as the GRMS Team Mom. This eventually lead to my pursuit as a GRMS Cheer Coach. Through the National Federation of State High Schools Association (NFHS), I am certified in the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA) Spirit Safety and Concussions in Sports. I have also worked as a tutor with various reading programs at local elementary schools for 8+ years. You can contact me at or at carisemmel@gmail.com.

2 GRMS Cheer Important Dates (Tentative) MANDATORY Parent Meeting: Location Gamble Rogers Middle School March 19 th 6:00pm Cheer Tryout Clinic/Tryouts: Location - GRMS Gymnasium April 2 nd 3:30-5:30pm (Established GRMS students can stay after school with coaches until clinic starts) April 5 th 3:30-5:30pm (Established GRMS students can stay after school with coaches until clinic starts) April 6 th 4:00-5:30pm (Established GRMS students are not permitted to stay after on this day) MANDATORY Uniform/Practice Wear Fitting: Location GRMS Gymnasium April 9 th 5:30 (After Practice) **Parents are required to confirm fitting. Please plan on being present to verify sizing. Spring Practice (April 9 th May 21 st ): Location GRMS Every Monday 2:00-5:30pm (April 9 th, April 16 th, April 23 rd, April 30 th, May 7 th, May 14 th, May 21 st ) **We understand that elementary school gets out an hour after middle school. Therefore, practice will be dedicated to dressing out, snack time, and homework until 3:20pm. This will allow our rising 6 th graders time to arrive!** Spring Game: Location St. Augustine High School Saturday, May19 th Time: TBA 8 Summer Practice (June 13 th July 26 th ): Location Anchor Athletics, 2475 Industry Center Rd., St. Augustine, FL pm Wednesday and Thursdays every other week (June 13 th, 14 th, 27 th, 28 th, July 11 th 12 th, 25 th, 26 th ) MANDATORY Cheer Camp: Location and Time: TBA July 19 th 21 st Pool Bonding Party: Location Coach Cari s House: 5 Kelley Lane, St. Augustine, FL August 4 th, 6-10pm Fall Practices (August 14 th October 29 th ): Location GRMS

3 Every Monday 2:00-5:30pm (August 13 th, August 20 st, August 27 th, September 4 th *, September 10 th, September 17 th, September 24 th, October 1 st, October 8 th, October 16 th *, October 22 nd, October 29 th *These dates are on Tuesday due to no school on Monday. Football Game Schedule (August October): All Football Games are on Wednesdays at 5:00pm. However, due to field scheduling some may be on Thursdays. We are also occasionally asked to cheer for a quarter or a halftime at PMHS high school during a Friday night game. Advance notice of this is usually within one or two weeks. **There are approximately 8 games. On home game days, cheerleaders will stay after school for pizza, primping, and practice!! Football schedule TBA!!!** Winter Practice (November 5 th February 21 st ): Location GRMS Competition Readiness Monday and Wednesday (November 5 th, 7 th, 13 th, 14 th, 26 th, 28 th ) Holiday Break No Practice! Enjoy your holidays with family and friends!! (December 3 rd January 7 th ) Basketball Cheer Practice (January 9 th and 14 th, then prior to each home basketball game directly after school) Competitions (November December): SJMSAA Showcase Saturday TBA in November Falcon Frenzy PMHS High School Saturday TBA (Possibly December 1 st ) Christmas (December): St. Augustine Christmas Parade Usually the first Saturday of the month and a Christmas Party typically follows. However, this date may be a competition date? TBA Basketball Game Schedule (Mid-January Mid-February): Approximately one per week for 5 weeks. (TBA) **All Basketball Games start at 5:00pm! We only cheer for home games and there are approximately five for the season!! Sometimes we are asked to stay for the boys basketball games as well. We will stay after school for pizza, primping, and practice!!! Basketball schedule TBA!!!** End of the Year Banquet (End of February): Location: Homeport Church Date and Time: TBA, Based on when Basketball Season Ends

4 GRMS Cheer Cost Sheet/Breakdown (Approximate) $25 Tryout Fee (non-refundable) Plus $375 to SJMSAA due May 1 st via SJMSAA Payment Portal $205 Association Fee (Legal fees, Certifications, Operating Costs) $50 Coaching Fee (Diverted by GRMS Coaches to Cover Summer Practices) $125 Cheer Camp $20 Banquet Fee $120 to GRMS Cheer due May 21 st via Cash or Check $55 Practice Wear (2 Bows, 2 Shorts, 1 Cheer Tank, 1 Cheer T-shirt) $30 Cheer Shoes and Cheer Socks $35 Game Day Jersey $160 to GRMS Cheer due June 13 th via Cash or Check $69 Custom Uniform $54 Custom Warm-up $11 Custom Sublimated Game Day Bow $26 Bloomers and Crop Top $44 to GRMS Cheer due July 12 th via Cash or Check IF Newbie $16 Poms $20 Cheer Bag $8 Rain Jacket Or $16 to GRMS Cheer due July 12 th via Cash or Check IF Returnee $16 Poms Total for GRMS Cheer Newbie Total for GRMS Cheer Returnee $699 without fundraising $671 without fundraising **Fundraising will be provided to help compensate/reimburse for initial cheer expenses! Your cost is ultimately decided on your fundraising participation. Remember, the uniform, warm-up, and cheer bag are investments that can used for subsequent years!** Fundraisers: Flash 1-hour sale (During Practice) Popcorn Fundraising Applebee s Pancake Breakfast Publix Cheer and Donations April April May June

5 Sponsorship/Advertisement opportunities are available! If you have a business that would like to sponsor your daughter and advertise on our t-shirts, let us know! In addition to these fees, there will be a onetime pizza and water fee collected. This will be based on the number of home games I will be providing afterschool pizza for, divided by the number of girls on the team. This fee is usually $15-20 due in August, plus one case of water. Exact amounts will be posted by the beginning of Football Season. Concession money will be used towards Pink Game T-shirts, Pink Bows, Pink Socks, Eighth Grade Night specialty bows, Homecoming sashes, Competition Fees, and the End of the Year Banquet. Each parent MUST volunteer one shift at Concessions during the Football Season! Shifts are 30 minutes each during a home game of your choice.

6 Cheerleading 2018 Dear Parents and Prospective Cheerleaders, Thank you for your interest in the SJMSAA Cheerleading Program. Mark your Calendars as the Cheerleading clinic and tryout will be hosted at each school shortly. Being chosen as an SJMSAA cheerleader should be seen as both an honor and a commitment. Squad membership is a privilege and will focus on excellence in academics, leadership and character in game day performances. Academics should be a priority for all SJMSAA cheerleaders. A successful cheerleader should be to balance schoolwork, a busy cheerleading schedule and personal responsibilities. Squad members must maintain a 2.0 GPA. However, many of our cheerleaders exceed this minimum requirement. Being a student-athlete is rewarding. Leadership and positive character traits are also important qualities that each candidate must possess. The SJMSAA board expects cheerleaders to set a positive example for behavior and character not only at school but in the community as well. Whether in a uniform or not, a SJMSAA cheerleader must exhibit respect, trustworthiness, fairness and good sportsmanship to all those around him or her. In school, respect includes arriving to class on time and being prepared with materials and assignments. As a result, teacher recommendations will be used as one of the indicators in the tryouts and will impact the tryout score. Commitment will be key to a candidate s success as a SJMSAA cheerleader. Cheerleaders will be expected to attend all scheduled games, practices and team activities. Thank you again for your interest in SJMSAA cheerleading and good luck! Cheers, SJMSAA CHEER COMMISIONER Bri Anne Stansell

7 Cheerleading By-Laws 2018 A cheerleader is a representative of SJMSAA, whose purpose is to promote and uphold school spirit, as well as to represent SJMSAA to the high degree possible in performance, competition, and in daily life. A cheerleader s behavior should exemplify good moral character, trustworthiness, friendliness and leadership. She/he should be a positive role model for other students, and she or he should exhibit responsibility, dependability and integrity for herself/himself and others. Membership Cheerleading for SJMSAA is from April to December. Cheerleading should take priority over ALL other extracurricular activities during the cheerleading season. If you participate in a sport other than cheerleading, you must notify a coach prior to tryouts to establish whether a conflict will arise during the cheerleading season. Failure to do so can be grounds for dismissal from the squad with no refunds. Cheerleaders must follow all rules and regulations set forth by the St. Johns County School Board and SJMSAA and the cheerleading coach. Inappropriate behavior on or off campus, photos, any social media or texting with any SJMSAA attire on will be grounds for dismissal from the squad with no refunds. Being selected as a cheerleader one year no way guarantees placement on the squad the following year. The squad will be selected solely by the cheerleading coaches discretion. Responsibilities All members will be required to attend ALL practices, ALL games and ALL cheer activities. The coach will have the right to determine if a member will participate in an event according to her participation and effort during the week of a game, event competition or performance. Every member must maintain a 2.0 GPA at all times. Grades will be checked with each interim and report card period. Members will be required to pay for association fees, practice wear, camp fee, uniform and cheer accessories that each coach feels necessary. In addition, some schools do not have the privilege of practicing on campus after school. With that being said, a gym fee may be required to host practices. It s 2

8 also up to the coach to require girls to be enrolled in a tumbling/cheer class at a local gym. It is up to the coach to decide whether the team will compete during our season April-December, Competition fees, choreography fees and travel fees may apply. Practice days and times will be determined by the coach at the beginning of the season. The coach will make every effort to be consistent with the practice schedule. Please be aware that practices are added as needed throughout the season, but especially if the coach decided to compete. Cheerleaders are expected to perform at practice as they would at a game or competition. Cheerleaders must consistently perform at or above the level exhibited at tryouts. Failure to do so will be grounds for dismissal from the squad with no refunds. Example: if a cheerleader performed a standing back tuck at tryouts, she or he must consistently demonstrate that skill throughout the season. Uniforms Uniforms will be purchased by the cheerleader. In addition, all cheer accessories will be purchased by cheerleader (bow, briefs, poms, rain jackets, bag, shoes). We do our best to be frugal and help with fundraising opportunities as much as you want to head them up and organize them. However, cheerleading is an expensive sport. Rules of Uniform Full cheer uniform consists of shell top, skirt, briefs, socks, cheer shoes and bow. Uniforms cannot be altered without the coach s approval. Neither uniforms nor any practice wear are to be worn unless told to do so by your coach. Neither uniforms nor any practice wear may be worn by or loaned to a nonteam member. Finger Nails should be short with no finger nail polish worn while in uniform. Absolutely NO jewelry at any time should be worn with practice wear or cheer uniform. When arriving to events, practices or games, cheerleaders should be fully dressed before getting out of car. No other apparel should be worn with uniform unless you are told to do so by coach (example: pants underneath your skirt, or jacket/sweatshirt over your uniform.) Some cheer accessories maybe provided by the coach. If so, these are to be returned within one week of the season ending. If a cheerleader quits or is dismissed from the squad, they need to be returned immediately. Cheerleaders are responsible for replacing items that are lost or damaged. Attendance 1. All practices, games and events are mandatory. 2. There are NO EXCUSED absences. If a cheerleader misses practices within 1 week of a performance she/he will be benched for that upcoming performance. It is up to the coach to determine if she/he can participate on the sidelines. If a cheerleader misses practice the week of a game, event or performance she/he will be benched and still required to attend in full uniform and sit by the coach. 3. All cheerleaders are required to attend practice unless she or he has an illness that is deemed contagious by a physician. Alert a coach of any illness prior to practice. If a cheerleader is ill, but not contagious, she/ he will be required to attend practice and will be permitted to sit on the side or sidelines. 3

9 4. If a physician has restricted a cheerleader s participation due to an injury, a doctor s clearance must be presented before the cheerleader will be allowed to resume cheerleading activities. 5. It is the cheerleaders responsibility to notify the coach as soon as she/he knows they will not be in attendance to practices, games or events. 6. Demerits will be given for not contacting the coach in advance for missing practices, games or events. 7. Demerits will be given for excessive absences. 8. Excessive absences can result in removal from the squad with no refunds given. Commitment is vital to the success of a squad when one member is not present, it affects his or her entire stunt groups ability to practice and the team s ability to practice. This is not fair to the entire team and will not be tolerated. 9. If a member is absent, it is the member s responsibility to contact the coach or a teammate to learn what is missed. Failure to do so can result in demerits. Performances at Practices, games or events 1. Upon arrival you should be dressed in FULL uniform before exiting your car. 2. Cheerleaders who appear to be improperly dressed or unprepared for practice, game or events she/he maybe required to sit out. Sitting out will that the member will not participate during the event but will sit next to the coach. 3. Parents are responsible for transportation to and from ALL practices, games or events. 4. Cheerleaders are expected to arrive 10 minutes early to practice (in appropriate practice attire, prepared to begin). 5. Cheerleaders are expected to arrive at least 30 minutes early for games or events unless specified by the coach. 6. Excessive tardiness will not be tolerated can result in demerits or removal from the team with no refunds given. 7. Cheerleaders may not leave practice, games/sidelines or events without permission of the coach. 8. Specified spirit wear will be worn to school on game days. Failure to wear the assigned items when instructed will be considered defiance and will result in demerits. 9. Horseplay, excessive talking or laughing during practice, game or event will not be tolerated. We want you to enjoy cheering, but you must remember your purpose as a sideline cheerleader is to lead the crowd. In addition, excessive play or talking while stunting, formation on the sidelines or practice or events is grounds for removal and even dismissal from the team. Appearance 1. Cheerleader must be neat and clean at all times. The uniform and shoes must be cleaned regularly. 4

10 2. Hair is to be worn up out of your face with your practice or performance bow at all times, unless directed otherwise. 3. Jewelry is prohibited and is not to be worn at any practice, game or event. 4. Chewing gum is prohibited and is not allowed at any practice, game or event. Parental Commitment 1. Parents are responsible for the monetary obligation that will be clearly outlined by each school s cheerleading coach at the beginning of the season. 2. Parents are asked to volunteer to assist in making candy bags, team meals, transportation, head and work fundraisers and providing drinks at games. 3. Parents are responsible for proper and timely transportation to and from all events. 4. Parents are required to provide all appropriate funds and paperwork by announced deadline. 5. Parents must attend ALL meetings asked of the coach. 6. Parents understand that cheerleading is a big commitment and have read and know the mandatory dates and will have their child in attendance for her/him to participate in this cheer season. Failure to do so can result in your cheerleader be dismissed from the team. 7. I understand, there are NO refunds at any time. 8. Parents must show full support for the coach at all times. We understand there may be disagreements on decisions that can or will be made. The coach s decisions are not based on your cheerleader rather than they are based on the whole team. 9. If you have questions or concerns you are to contact your coach first. 10. Any parents that are involved in or begin gossiping amongst other parents, cheerleaders or teams is grounds for an immediate dismissal for your cheerleader. We have ZERO tolerance for gossiping parents or cheerleaders. 11. I understand that the demerit system is in place. My cheerleader cannot work off demerits. Once my cheerleader reaches 10 demerits she will be dismissed from the team with no refunds. 12. Parents are responsible for making sure the coach is contacted in advance when your cheerleader will be missing practice 13. I understand that there are NO EXCUSED ABSCENCES and my daughter will be benched for the upcoming performance if she were to miss practice the week prior to. 14. I understand that my cheerleader will be benched if she/he misses practice the week of a game or performance, but still required to have she/he in attendance, dressed out sitting by the coach. 5

11 Demerit System Out of uniform including practices, games or events, 1 Not being prepared for practice, games or events (example: getting out of car not fully dressed) 2 Not bringing all material asked to practice games or events 2 Arriving late to practice, games or events 3 Using any foul language, disrespect, laziness, arguing or starting drama amongst team members, talking about another team member Failure to contact coach prior to practice, games or event 5 Any social media, pictures, texting that is deemed in appropriate 4 10 Once cheerleader reaches 5 demerits she/he will be benched for upcoming game or event. Once cheerleader reaches 10 demerits she/he will be dismissed from the team with no refunds. Cheerleader will not have the opportunity to work off demerits. Once she is benched for her first 5 demerits, those demerits stay for the remainder of the year. 6